Condiment dispenser



Feb. 15, 1966 R. D. WALTHER ETAL 3,235,130

CONDIMENT DISPENSER Filed March 1, 1963 ,1 INVENTORS Yj? RONALD D.TA/24L THEE RICHARD 1 PA GE I /4 I 11'; /t\ 6 BY E e-57 Fran 7 AT" TORNEYS United States Patent 3,235,130 CONDIMENT DISPENSER Ronald D.Walther and Richard I. Page, Minneapolis, Minn, assignors to FoleyManufacturing Company, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of MinnesotaFiled Mar. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 262,170 2 Claims. (Cl. ZZZ-142.9)

This invention relates to a new and very useful ground condimentdispenser. More particularly, this invention relates to a condimentdispenser containing two compartments, each for a different condiment,as salt and pepper and from which each condiment can be selectivelydispensed individually, thereby to provide in a single dispensing unitmeans for applying condiments in accordance with the wishes of aparticular individual use.

It is an object of this invention to provide a condiment dispenseradaptedfor the dispensation of selected amounts of either one of twodifferent condiments which is easy to manufacture, reliable inoperation, and readily maintainable in a sanitary and operablecondition.

It is another object of this invention to provide a condiment dispensercontaining two separate compartments from which either of two differentcondiments can each be selectively dispensed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a two compartmentcondiment dispenser having a valve for dispensing selectively acondiment from either of said compartments, said valve being responsiveto movements of a valve stem exteriorly located on the outside of saiddispenser for easy manipulation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a salt and peppershaker wherein a perforate circular top wall has a perforate valveplatebeneath it which is adapted for rotary reciprocal movements wherebyvalve plate perforations selectively move into registration with topwall perforations, thereby to control dispensing of salt or pepper fromeither of two storage compartments beneath saidtop plate. j

The above and further objects of this invention will become apparent'tothose skilled in the art'from a reading of the attached specificationtaken together withthe following drawings wherein a preferred embodimentof the invention is described.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate likepartsthroughout the several viewsi FIG. "1 is a perspective view of acondiment dispenser for salt, pepper, or the like, made inaccordancewith the teachings of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, some partsthereof broken away and some parts shown in section;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the FIG. 5 is anenlarged detail sectional view taken along ithe line'55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailsectional view taken along the Iine 66 ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken alongthe line 7'-7 of FIG. 5.

Turning to the drawings there is seen irrFIG. 1 a condimentdispenser ofthe invention herein designated in its entirety by the numeral 1%. Thisdispenser is seen to consist of an upstanding "cross-sectionallycircular housing 11 having a generally circulanperforate top wallportion 12 and a bottom wall portion 17. The interior of the housing 11is-divided into a pairof storage compartments 13 and 14,respectively,-.by an upright partition 16. The partition 16 extendsdiametrically across the top wall portion and down through the body ofthe housing 11. In the embodiment shown, the housing 11 is generallycylindrically shaped and slightly circumferentially compressed at apoint slightly below its mid-region.

The cylindrical walls of the housing 11 and the partition 16 togetherwith the bottom wall 17 are preferably formed from molded plasticmaterial such as polystyrene, polyethylene, or the like. The housing 11is formed of two cooperating halves (see FIG. 3), herein each designatedin its entirety by the numeral 18 and 19 respectively. The halves areformed along a hypothetical plane positioned generally normally to themedian of partition 16. At the point where the two cylindrical wallsinterconnect, a lap joint is formed, as shown for example, in thesectional view of FIG. 6. In order to strengthen the wall portions atthe point where the respective halves 18 and 19 interconnect, aplurality of circumferentially extending bosses 21 are integrally formedin one half, here 19. These bosses 21 are formed as raised thickeningsinwardly extending from the side-edges of half 19. The forward endportion (as respects the lap joint) extends over the edge so that whenthe two halves 18 and 19 are positioned together, these'hosses 21 eachengage the adjoining half and from ariblike strengthening andinterlocking member. Similar bosses 21a are positioned on half 18, butthese do not project forward into association with half 19 but ratherinstead serve as reinforcing ribs on half 18.

At the point where the respective halves of the partition 16 cometogether when halves 18 and 19 mate, there is formed a tongue-and-groovejoint. The tongue portion appears in half 18 and the groove portion inhalf 19. A similar tongue and-groove joint is formed where therespective halves 17a and 17]), forming together the bottom wall 17,come together.

Stopperholes 22 and Rare formed, respectively, in the halves 17a and17b, one half of each stopper hole being formed in each half 17a and 17bso that when the respective halves 1S and 19 of the housing 1 1 areplaced together, the circiilar hcles22 and23 are defined. The twocooperating halves 18 and 19 are held together by any convenient means,such as heat fusion, gluing, orthe like.

The perforate top wall portion 12 has a pair of slots "24 positioned inopposite ends of a diameter in its outer edge; the slots extend a shortways along theouter edge on either side of such diameter. Top wallportion 12 has twosets of perforations 35. One 'set is designated by thenumeral 38a andthe other by the numeral 3%.

All perforations 35 in top wall portionlZ are positioned at regularlyspaced intervals along radii, each radius being angularly spaced from anadjacent radius-an equal, predetermined, included angle except that theincluded angle between set 38a and39a is larger.

Along the inside top of the side walls ofhousing 11 are a pair ofcircumferentially extending, axially spaced, annular shoulders 26 and'27, respectively, which define between them a groove 28. A pair ofdiametrically opposed keys 31 downwardly extend from each shoulder' 27;"in the embodiment shown,.these.keys.31 are positioned at either end ofthe partition 16. These keys 31, in width,

correspondto that of eachslotZ'd sothat when the per- :forate top wallportion 12is positioned in the upper portion of groove 28, the keys 31interlock with the slots 24. This key-slot arrangementnot only .preventsthetop wall portion 12 from rotating but also positions the perforations35 so that each set ofperforations 38a and39a is centrally located .overa different storage compartment 13 and.14 of top wall portion 12.Observe that the outer edges of the top .wall portion .12 are containedwithin the groove 28.

A circular valve plate 29 sits immediateiy underneath the'top wallportion=12 in face-to face engagement thereu with. The outer edgeportions of valve plate 29 are adapted to fit into the groove 23 beneaththe top wall portion 12. The valve plate 29 is adapted for rotaryreciprocal movements over the storage compartments 13 and 14.

The housing 11 defines a circumferentially extending arcuate slot 32which extends through the circumferential edge of groove 28 (i.e.,adjacent the edge of valve plate 29). One half of this slot lies in eachcooperating half 13 and 19, respectively.

A valve stem 33 radially outwardly projects through the slot 32 from thevalve plate 29 so as to adapt the valve plate 29 for rotary reciprocalmovements responsive to force exteriorly applied to the valve stem 33 ofthe housing 11 circumferentially to the left or to the right in FIG. 1.Formed integrally with the stem 33, in the embodiment shown, is a knob34 which facilitates easy manual movements of the valve stem 33.

The valve plate 29 defines two sets of perforations or slots 36, eachset being designated collectively by the numerals 38b and 39b. Eachplate perforation set, say, 38b is so positioned in plate 29 as toregister with top wall set perforation 38a, while the other plateperforation set 3% remains simultaneously out of registration with theother top wall perforation set 39a; and when the valve plate 29 isrotated by means of force applied to the valve stem 33 so that the valvereciprocates to the opposite end of slot 32, then the valve plateperforation set 3811 is out of registration with the top wallperforation set 38a, while on the other hand, the valve plateperforation set 3911 has moved into registration with the top wallperforation set 39a.

To fill the condiment dispenser 10, it is convenient to invert thehousing 11 and to pour in, as through a stopper hole 22, the salt, andthrough the stopper hole 23, pepper, with the valve plate so positionedthat the slots 38b and 3% are both out of register with the perforations38a and 39a in the top wall portion 12 so that no condiment can passtherethrough. After the filling operation is completed, each hole 22 and23 is closed or stoppered as with a cork or the like and the condimentdispenser is inverted to an upright position ready for use. By having anextra set of slots in the valve plate 29, it is possible to permit theuser to dispense both salt and pepper simultaneously from the samecondiment dispenser or, selectively, salt or pepper.

Our invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completelysatisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects, and it will beappreciated that while the invention above described has been describedwith reference to a particular and preferred embodiment of theinvention, that other and equivalent structures are possible within thespirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A condiment dispenser comprising:

(a) a housing defining a generally cylindrical side Wall,

a circular bottom wall, a circular top wall, and a generally diametricpartition extending generally between said bottom wall and said top walland dividing said housing into a pair of chambers,

(b) said top wall defining two sets of perforations, each set of whichoverlies a different one of said chambers,

(c) said side wall defining an annular groove on its inside surfaceadjacent the side edge of said top wall,

(d) said cylindrical side wall further defining a circumferentialyextending elongated and generally arcuate slot communicating with saidgroove,

(e) a circular valve plate adapted for limited rotary movements on avertical axis in opposite directions from a neutral positionintermediate the limits of said rotary movement thereof, and having itscircumferential edge disposed in said groove, said valve plate beingpositioned in underlying face-to-face relationship with said top wallover said partition, and

(f) a valve stem projecting radially outwardly through said slot fromsaid valve plate and adapted to impart said rotary movements to saidvalve plate,

(g) said valve plate having openings therethrough, such valve plateopenings being out of register with the top wall perforations responsiveto rotary movements posed in its neutral position, some of said valveplate openings being moved into register with one set of top wallperforations responsive to rotary movements of said valve plate towardone of the limits of movement thereof while others of said valve plateopenings are out of register with the other set of top wallperforations, others of such valve plate openings being movable intoregister with the other set of top wall perforations responsive tomovement of said valve plate toward its other limit of rotary movementwhile said some valve plate openings are out of register with the firstset of top wall perforations.

2. A condiment dispenser comprising:

(a) a housing formed by a pair of cooperating halves of rigid material,said housing defining a generally cross-sectionally circular side wall,a circular bottom wall, a diametrically extending partition dividingsaid housing into a pair of chambers, an annular groove located abovethe top of said partition and a circumferentially extending elongatedand generally arcuate slot located in said side wall and communicatingwith the circumferential edge of said groove,

(b) a circular top wall whose outer edge portions are adapted to fitinto said groove and having defined therein two sets of perforations,each set being adapted to overlie a different one of said chambers,

(c) means for positioning said top Wall in said groove in a fixedposition whereby each of the top Wall perforation sets overlies adifferent one of said chambers,

(d) a circular valve plate whose outer edge portions are adapted to fitinto said groove beneath said top wall, said plate and said top wallbeing in face-toface engagement, said plate being adapted for rotaryreciprocal movements,

(e) a valve stem radially outwardly projecting from said valve plate andextending through said slot, said stem being adapted to impart rotaryreciprocal movements to said valve plate,

(f) said valve plate defining two sets of perforations, each plateperforation set being adapted to register with a different one of saidtop wall perforation sets while the other plate perforation set remainsimultaneously out of registration with the other of said top wallperforation sets, such selective registration being achieved in responseto rotary reciprocal movement of said valve plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,215,018 2/1917Grossman 222-142.6 1,283,447 11/1918 Anthony 222-548 X 1,316,519 9/1919Stone 222-548 X 1,568,160 1/1926 Hibbert 222-1429 1,889,593 11/1932Davis 222-565 X 2,376,855 5/1945 Hanley ZZZ-142.9 X 2,578,538 12/1951Gray 222142.9 X 2,627,992 1/ 1953 Kurz 222142.4 X 2,788,920 4/1957Germain 222-1426 3,145,880 8/ 1964 Wheatley 222-565 X FOREIGN PATENTS146,936 6/ 1952 Australia.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiner.

2. A CONDIMENT DISPENSER COMPRISING: (A) A HOUSING FORMED BY A PAIR OFCOOPERATING HALVES OF RIGID MATERIAL, SAID HOUSING DEFINING A GENERALLYCROSS-SECTIONALLY CIRCULAR SIDE WALL, A CIRCULAR BOTTOM WALL, ADIAMETRICALLY EXTENDING PARTITION DIVIDING SAID HOUSING INTO A PAIR OFCHAMBERS, AN ANNULAR GROOVE LOCATED ABOVE THE TOP OF SAID PARTITION ANDA CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING ELONGATED AND GENERALLY ARCUATE SLOTLOCATED IN SAID SIDE WALL AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE CIRCUMFERENTIALEDGE OF GROOVE, (B) A CIRCULAR TOP WALL WHOSE OUTER EDGE PORTIONS AREADAPTED TO FIT INTO SAID GROOVE AND HAVING DEFINED THEREIN TWO SETS OFPERFORATIONS, EACH SET BEING ADAPTED TO OVERLIE A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAIDCHAMBERS, (C) MEANS FOR POSITIONING SAID TOP WALL IN SAID GROOVE IN AFIXED POSITION WHEREBY EACH OF THE TOP WALL PERFORATION SET OVERLIES ADIFFERENT ONE OF SAID CHAMBERS, (D) A CIRCULAR VALVE PLATE WHOSE OUTEREDGE PORTIONS ARE ADAPTED TO FIT INTO SAID GROOVE BENEATH SAID TOP